February 05
St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-02-05
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Holy Oblation
Calendar
Announcements & Pastor's Corner
St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (260) 637-2572
- Fax:
- (260) 637-2647
- Street Address:
- 402 Badiac Road
- Fort Wayne, IN 46845-1108
- Mailing Address:
- 402 Badiac Road
- Fort Wayne, IN 46845-1108
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Saturdays: Vespers: 5:00 pm
Sundays: Matins: 9:00 am
Divine Liturgy: 10:15 am
Feastdays: If Scheduled: 6:30 pm
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2017-04-09
- Publish Date:
- 2017-01-29
- Publish Date:
- 2017-01-22
- Publish Date:
- 2016-12-11
- Publish Date:
- 2016-12-04
- Publish Date:
- 2016-11-27
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 8th Tone
From the heights thou didst descend O Compassionate One, and thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Presentation in the 1st Tone
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace; for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous old man, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who granteth us resurrection.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 1st Tone
Thou, O Christ God, who by thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin's womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon's arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love, for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 8th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.
TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14
The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Saints and Feasts
February 05
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.
Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.
All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.
Wisdom of the Fathers
It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much lustre, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first.
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century
When lately we made mention of the Pharisee and the publican, and hypothetically yoked two chariots out of virtue and vice; we pointed out each truth, how great is the gain of humbleness of mind, and how great the damage of pride.
CONCERNING LOWLINESS OF MIND., 4th Century
Holy Oblation
HOLY OBLATION
THE HOLY BREAD IS OFFERED is for the health of Annie and Fouad’s great grand children, especially Caleb. For the good health of the Deeb, Shepherd, Marlow, and Tomeh families, and for all the parishioners of St. John.
IN MEMORY of those who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection to life, all the departed from St. John, and all the departed from the Deeb, Shepherd, Marlow and Salem families.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
February Birthdays
1 Grant C., 5 John C., 6 Walid N., 14 Ashley B., 28 Robert A., Nicole B.
February Wedding Anniversaries
2 George & Elaine
May God grant you many years!
Calendar
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Calendar
February 5 to February 19, 2017
Sunday, February 5Pharisee and the Publican
9:00AM Matins
10:15AM Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, February 7Bp. Anthony's official visit
6:00PM Youth Nite with Sayieda
Wednesday, February 86:00PM Divine Liturgy with Sayieda & Dinner
Saturday, February 114:30PM Confession
5:00PM Great Vespers
Sunday, February 12Prodigal Son
9:00AM Matins
10:15AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, February 137:00PM Antiochian Women's Meeting
Saturday, February 18Saturday of Souls
9:00AM Matins - Saturday of Souls
10:15AM Divine Liturgy - Saturday of Souls
4:30PM Confession
5:00PM Great Vespers
Sunday, February 19Meatfare
9:00AM Matins
10:15AM Divine Liturgy
Announcements & Pastor's Corner
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lenten Triodion Begins Today
Today marks the start of the 3-week preparation for Lent, known as "The Tridion." During this period, the Church gives us time to gradually break into the Lenten Fast, and over the next 3 Sundays, it lays the foundation of the virtues we hope develop during Lent. This coming week, there is no fasting whatsoever, including on Wednesday and Friday. This is to give you the opportunity to slowly enter the full rigors of the Lenten Fast, one step at a time. Lent itself begins on February 27th, and Pascha falls on April 16th. I wish you all a blessed Triodion and Lent.
"Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday" - February 5th
Next Sunday is our annual "Souper Bowl of Caring" event. On this day, our entire parish community is asked to remember the Lord's commandment to feed the hungry. I am asking two small things from each family:
1.) On Sunday, Feb. 5th, please bring a bag of canned goods for our food pantry.
2.) Following liturgy that day, our Teen SOYO youth will be asking for your donations, all of which will be used to support the work of local charities such as the Franciscan House, and the Community Harvest Food Bank.
May the Lord bless you for following the teaching of helping our neighbor.
Archpastoral Visit of Bishop Anthony to Fort Wayne
Tuesday, February 7th, 6 pm: "Youth Night with Sayedna Anthony": All of church school children and teens are invited to share an evening with Bishop Anthony. Pizza, salad, and other refreshments will be provided.
Wednesday, February 8th, 6 pm: Evening Divine Liturgy, presided over by Bishop Anthony. Parish dinner to follow in the fellowship hall.
Home Blessing Season
Home blessing season has begun. There is a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall. Please sign up, and I will contact you in order of sign-up to schedule the house blessing. I encourage the entire parish to make time to have their home blessed, so that the grace of Christ and the blessing of the Church can accompany you all the days of the next year in your homes. Home blessing season ends at the start of Lent (Feb. 27).
Antiochian Women Education Grants
The Antiochian Women of the Archdiocese are offering $500 grants to women who seek to return to their education and training. The requirements are:
Be a female, 26 years of age or older
Be a member in Good Standing of their Antiochian parish
Be actively involved in the worship, service, and social life of her parish
Be applying for, or registered in, an academic or trade study program
Demonstrate financial need
Applications can be found on www.antiochian.org, or speak with Fr. Michael.
Bulletin info due by Monday, 11:59 pm to stjohnfortwaynebulletin at yahoo dot com.
PASTOR'S CORNER
Preparation for Lent
by Fr. Alexander Schmemann (+)
Long before the actual beginning of Lent, the Church announces its approach and invites us to enter into the period of pre-Lenten preparation. It is a characteristic feature of the Orthodox liturgical tradition that every major feast or season - Easter, Christmas, Lent, etc. - is announced and "prepared" in advance. Why? Because of the deep psychological insight by the Church into human nature. Knowing our lack of concentration and the frightening "worldliness" of our life, the Church knows our inability to change rapidly, to go abruptly from one spiritual or mental state into another. Thus, long before the actual effort of Lent is to begin, the Church calls our attention to its seriousness and invites us to meditate on its significance. Before we can practice Lent we are given its meaning. This preparation includes several consecutive Sundays preceding Lent, and each one of them - through its particular Gospel lesson - is dedicated to some fundamental aspect of repentance.
Each Sunday between now and the start of Lent, make it a habit to listen carefully to each Gospel reading in church, and to be attentive to the sermon, which is intended to make the lesson applicable to our lives today. It would be a good practice to re-read the Gospel of each Sunday over the course of the week, and to share its message with your families and children. In this way, our preparation for Lent becomes much more meaningful, as its lessons begin to permeate our lives, not only on Sunday morning, but each and every day.